Drapery support

ABSTRACT

A traverse rod assembly including a horizontally disposed traverse rod with a track therein having end carrier members with slides perpendicular to the traverse rod at each end of the rod, and movable carrier members slidable in the traverse rod track also having slides perpendicular to the traverse rod, there being provided a first set of pivotally interconnected drapery support links including an end link having a projection slidable in one of the end carrier slides and a butt link having a projection slidable in one of the movable carrier member slides, the projection on the end link being square and the end carrier member slide being sized to maintain the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod; there also being provided a second set of pivotally interconnected drapery supporting links including an end link and a butt link, with the second set butt link being identical to the first set end link and the first set butt link being identical to the second set end link to reduce the number of dies required to make the first and second set end links and butt links, with the slides associated with the movable carrier members being larger than the slides associated with the end carrier members so that the butt links may freely pivot with respect thereto.

States Patent 1 Baker, Sr.

[ Jan. 15, 1974 DRAPERY SUPPORT [75] Inventor: George H. Baker, Sr., Dunlap, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Baker Drapery Corporation, Peoria,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 277,304

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 152,879, June 14 Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Axel A. Hofgren et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A traverse rod assembly including a horizontally disposed traverse rod with a track therein having end carrier members with slides perpendicular to the traverse rod at each end of the rod, and movable carrier members slidable in the traverse rod track also having slides perpendicular to the traverse rod, there being provided a first set of pivotally interconnected drapery support links including an end link having a projection slidable in one of the end carrier slides and a butt link having a projection slidable in one of the movable carrier member slides, the projection on the end link being square and the end carrier member slide being sized to maintain the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod; there also being provided a second set of pivotally interconnected drapery supporting links including an end link and a butt link, with the second set butt link being identical to the first set end link and the first set butt link being identical to the second set end link to reduce the number of dies required to make the first and second set end links and butt links, with the slides associated with the movable carrier members being larger than the slides associated with the end carrier members so that the butt links may freely pivot with respect thereto.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmwmww wssgow SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 3

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Drapery Support, Ser. No. 152,879, filed June 14, 1971, and assigned to the assignee in the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a traverse rod defining a track having slidable carrier members in the track for supporting pivotally interconnected folding links .with drapery attaching means releasably fixed to the supporting links.

As described in my co-pending parent application, Ser. No. 152,879, filed June 14, 1971, a traverse rod with a track is provided having two sets of pivotally interconnected links for releasably supporting as well as automatically pleating draperies supported or hanging therefrom. Each of the links is provided with a dove-tail groove that receives fasteners fixed to the top of the draperies.

At each end of the traverse rod, end carrier members are provided having slides generally transverse to the track that receive circular projections permitting limited transverse movement of the end links to accommodate the geometry of the assembly during opening and closing movements.

It is desirable to maintain the end links substantially perpendicular to the traverse rod and toward this end, and as described in my prior application, the end links have a specially designed abutment that engages the adjacent link to limit pivotal movement of the end links, whereas the remaining links in each set are permitted significant angular movement with respect to the traverse rod.

Also provided in my prior construction, are movable carrier members in the track that also have slides generally perpendicular to the traverse rod assembly. These slides receive circular projections on the butt links which are the links which move together during closing movement of the draperies. The butt links are also specially designed so that the joint interconnecting, the end links with the adjacent links permits the butt links to pivot freely with respect to the movable carrier members, with pivotal movement being limited to some maximum angle by an abutment on the pivot joint of each of the butt links.

In order to manufacture the traverse rod assembly described in my co-pending application, it is necessary to have four different special dies for molding the end return and butt links. These include two dies for the end links, since they are mirror image moldings, and two dies for the butt links, since they are mirror image moldings.

It is a primary object of the present invention to reduce the number of dies required for manufacturing the drapery supporting links.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a traverse rod assembly is provided having two sets of interconnected links where the end link in each set is identical to the butt link in the opposite set thereby reducing the number of dies required to manufacture the two sets of links in the drapery support assembly.

As described above, there was required in my prior construction four special dies for manufacturing the two sets of linkages. In accordance with the present invention, only two special dies are required, since the end link in each set is the same as the butt link in the opposite set.

Toward this end, the end links, which normally remain perpendicular to the traverse rod, do not have an extended abutment at their pivotal connection to maintain the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod, but rather have a rectangular projection that is closely fitted in a slide in the end member and this rectangular projection serves to maintain the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod.

The end links, when used as butt links, have free pivotal movement with respect to their interconnected carrier members that slide in the traverse rod track. Toward this end, the slides in the movable carrier members are enlarged so that they do not engage the square slide projections on the butt links, so that the butt links may move angularly with respect to the traverse rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traverse rod assembly embodying the present invention looking at the back side of the fixture, and showing a pair of support brackets for attaching the fixture to the wall or the like;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of one end of the center section of the assembly, with portions of the track cut away to illustrate the structure of the drapery folding links, and the carrier members;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present traverse rod assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section of one end carrier member taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken generally along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the track and one of the movable carrier members taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section of the movable carrier member taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the present traverse rod assembly 10 is seen to include an extruded metal track 12 that is fixed to the wall or support by bracket assemblies l4 and 16. Slidable in the traverse rod 12 are first and second sets of interconnected links 18 and 19 that support draperies or panels hanging therefrom and automatically maintain the same in a pleated condition and change the angle of the pleats thereof as the links move from the closed position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to the open position (not shown).

As seen in FIG. 2, the track or traverse rod has a front plate 20, a top plate 22, a rear flange 24, a bottom plate 26, and an intermediate plate 27. The bottom plate defines flanges 30 and 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) that receive sliders 38 for sliding movement that support intermediate links, such as link 40 in FIG. 2. Slider 38 has slots 42 and 44 that slide respectively on the track flanges 32 and 30.

For the purpose of supporting end links 46 and 47, end carrier members 50, 51 are fixed to each end of the traverse rod 12. As seen clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the

end carrier members have downwardly depending bosses 53 having a slot 54 defining a slide 55 for a projection 57 on the end link 46.

The downwardly depending boss 53 has side surfaces 58 spaced sufficiently close together so that they prevent any significant rotation of the square head 60 on projection 57 thus maintaining the end link 46 substantially perpendicular to the traverse rod 12.

The projection 57 is inserted within the boss 53 through a forwardly facing opening 61 as seen in FIG. 4. An upwardly extending flange 63 maintains the projection 57 within the boss 53 during use.

The intermediate links 67 and 68 as shown in FIG. 3 are identical, except inverted, although certain ones of the links 67 and 68 may have projections provided thereon which fit in sliders 38 for the purpose of supporting the intermediate linkage between the end links and the butt links, as shown by link 40 in FIG. 2. The butt links are shown at 70, 71 in FIGS. 1 and 3.

For the purpose of supporting the butt links 70 and 71, movable carrier members 75 and 76 are provided as shown in FIG. 3 slidable on the traverse rod assembly from an abutting position as shown in FIG. 1 where the draperies are closed, to an open position where the movable carrier members 75 and 76 are near the end carrier members 50 and 51.

As shown in FIG. 6, movable carrier members 75, as well as carrier member 76, is slidable on the traverse rod in the track defined by the flange members 30 and 32 which receive the sliders 38 as well. The movable carrier member 75 has a downwardly projecting boss 78 with a slot 79 for receiving a projection 81 on the butt link 70.

As described above, the butt link 70 is identical in construction to the end link 47. The boss 78 has side surfaces 83 that are spaced sufficiently far apart so that they do not inhibit the pivotal movement of the rectangular top portion 86 ofthe projection 81. Thus, the butt links 70, 71 may pivot freely with respect to the sides of the end carrier members 75, 76, limited only by flange 90 as shown in FIG. 3 in the pivotal connection with the adjacent link.

I claim:

1. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means.

2. The combination of claim 1, including a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means.

3. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, and said first end link being identical to said second butt link.

4. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, and said first end link and said second butt link being identical.

5. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means,

said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, said first end link and said second butt link being identical, and the projections on the first end link and the second butt link are rectangular.

6. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a'second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, said first end link and said second butt link being identical, the slide on said first end carrier member closely engaging the projection on the first end link and the slide on the second carrier member loosely engaging the projection on the second butt link.

7. A traverse rod assembly comprising: a traverse rod having a track thereon, two stationary end carrier members on the traverse rod each having a slide therein generally transverse to the traverse rod, two movable carrier members slidable in said tracks each having a slide thereon generally transverse to the traverse rod, a first set of pivotally interconnected links having an end link and a butt link, said end link having a projection thereon slidable in one of said end carrier members, said projection having straight sides engaging the slide to hold the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod, said butt link having a projection thereon slidable in one of the movable carrier members, a second set of pivotally interconnected links including an end link and a butt link, said second butt link being identical to said first set end link and having a projection with straight sides slidable in the other movable carrier member slide, said other movable carrier member slide being wider than the one end member slide so that the second set butt link can freely pivot with respect to the other movable carrier member, said second set end link being connected to said other end carrier member. 

1. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means.
 2. The combination of claim 1, including a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means.
 3. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substaNtially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, and said first end link being identical to said second butt link.
 4. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, and said first end link and said second butt link being identical.
 5. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with one of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, said first end link and said second butt link being identical, and the projections on the first end link and the second butt link are rectangular.
 6. In a traverse rod assembly, the combination, comprising: traverse rod means having a track therein, first and second movable carrier members slidable in said track means, end carrier members at each end of the traverse rod means, a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at one side of the traverse rod means for supporting panel means, said plurality of links including an end link interconnected with one of said end carrier members and a butt link interconnected with onE of said movable carrier members, and means interconnecting said one end carrier member and said end link means for maintaining said end link means substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, a second set of pivotally interconnected links at the other side of said traverse rod means including an end link interconnected to said other end carrier member and a butt link interconnected with said other movable carrier member, means interconnecting said second end link to the other end member for maintaining said second end link substantially perpendicular to said traverse rod means, said first end carrier having slide means therein, said first end link having a projection interengaging said slide means for substantially only rectilinear movement, said second movable carrier member having slide means therein, said second butt link having a projection interengaging said slide means for pivotal and rectilinear movement, said first end link and said second butt link being identical, the slide on said first end carrier member closely engaging the projection on the first end link and the slide on the second carrier member loosely engaging the projection on the second butt link.
 7. A traverse rod assembly comprising: a traverse rod having a track thereon, two stationary end carrier members on the traverse rod each having a slide therein generally transverse to the traverse rod, two movable carrier members slidable in said tracks each having a slide thereon generally transverse to the traverse rod, a first set of pivotally interconnected links having an end link and a butt link, said end link having a projection thereon slidable in one of said end carrier members, said projection having straight sides engaging the slide to hold the end link perpendicular to the traverse rod, said butt link having a projection thereon slidable in one of the movable carrier members, a second set of pivotally interconnected links including an end link and a butt link, said second butt link being identical to said first set end link and having a projection with straight sides slidable in the other movable carrier member slide, said other movable carrier member slide being wider than the one end member slide so that the second set butt link can freely pivot with respect to the other movable carrier member, said second set end link being connected to said other end carrier member. 